Letter 3040: Although a multitude of cares presses upon our compassionate mind and our customary diligence turns to the various...
Although a multitude of cares presses upon our compassionate mind and our customary diligence turns to the various parts of our kingdom, we have quickly looked to provide remedies for your welfare. In our conscience, to delay what would help people is itself a kind of injury, and we cannot consider pleasant what has been held in suspense by unwelcome delay. When illness grows worse, the damage runs unchecked while the medicine is postponed.
Therefore, to you who have been devastated by enemy ferocity, know that your tax obligations are remitted for the fourth indiction, in proportion to the damage suffered. We do not take pleasure in collecting what we know the taxpayer offers in sorrow. However, from what remains untouched, military expenses must still be supported -- those who know the army fights on their behalf cannot entirely abandon their duty. A hungry defender is a weak one, and the spirit cannot summon courage when the body's strength has failed.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
XL. UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS IN GALLIIS CONSTITUTIS THEODERICUS REX.
[1] Quamvis sensum nostrae pietatis turba multiplex cogitationis intraret et diversas regni partes consueta sedulitate respiceret, festine tamen remedia vestrae utilitatis aspeximus, quoniam apud conscientiam nostram laesionis genus est profutura tardare nec possumus aestimare iucundum, quod ingrata fuerit dilatione suspensum. nam aegrescentibus morbis laesio debacchari permittitur, cum medicina differtur. [2] Vobis itaque hostili feritate vastatis pro qualitate laesionis per indictionem quartam relaxatam agnoscite tributariam functionem, quia non gratulamur exigere, quod tristis noscitur solutor offerre. ita tamen ut de illis, quae constat intacta, exercituales iuventur expensae: quia in totum devotio deserere non debet quos pro se laborare cognoscit. invalidus est siquidem ieiunus defensor nec animus ministrat audaciam, cum virtus corporeo fuerit robore destituta.
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